Chapter 25: Life is like a GAL GAME

  I was confused, just now I found that the chapter repeated, now I'll change it back. By the way, I'd like to thank Yuki Shiki for her generous reward, although the author won't get a single penny (so sad). Mina-san, please also vote for recommendation to support the author~

  The sky is a vast expanse of blue, and in this quiet place, you can faintly hear the distant hum of the city, which only serves to highlight the ethereal tranquility here. A group of young men and women are gathered around the swing set, accompanied by the rustling of summer leaves, acting out a drama of youth's joys and sorrows... NOT REALLY!!!!!!!

  "What I want to tell you is about 'Fantasy Royal Hand'!"

  I've had enough of this melodrama, like confessing to someone and getting rejected; I won't think about how to put it delicately anymore, I'll just directly get straight to the point.

  Anyway, Soten Koko didn't hand over the "Fantasy Hand" to her classmate. After Kaito Minagi made things clear, as long as it doesn't happen in front of him, he won't take the initiative to intervene. Seeing someone die and not saving them is a different action and attitude from seeking trouble for oneself; Kaito Minagi wouldn't be so heartless as to do the former, nor would he be bored enough to do the latter like Kamachi Touma.

  "I'm sorry...... Ahhh! Isn't this a confession?" Soten Lizi heard Kai Lü Chūyì's words and habitually apologized first; after reacting, she immediately panicked and retreated several steps; wow, she had misunderstood something like that, how embarrassing!

  "I said it from the start, okay?! Honestly, what are middle school teachers doing these days?! The students they're educating are either perverts who like the same sex or violent maniacs who love to duel, or else they're just a bunch of guys who spend all day thinking about flipping up girls' skirts. And yet you act like I never said anything at all! Even if my presence is weak, don't ignore what I've said! I clearly spoke in a serious and solemn tone back then."

  "It's not that I like lifting skirts!" Sotenakiri explained in a flurry, "That's something I only do to my best friend Hatsuharu! It's proof of our friendship!"

  "Huh? You're not even denying that you've been daydreaming all day? And isn't that behavior considered 'bullying'? If your 'best friend' heard this, they'd cry too!" Kei Kaito thought that this explanation had way too many plot holes and couldn't help but mock it.

  "Are you a professional critic? Why can you find so many flaws with such precision!" Sotenakajii, who was cornered by Kaito, suddenly revealed her true nature as a cheerful but slightly perverted middle-aged man, hugging herself and looking away; what's wrong with being a weird high school girl who loves to think wildly and greet people with her skirt and shorts?

  "Stop avoiding the topic, let's talk. About the 'Fantasy Hand' thing." Kei Tairin didn't press on, but instead tilted his head back to gaze at the sky that was a lazy blue, grasping the chains of the swing with both hands and using his feet to push off the ground in a gentle motion; you, who can stand up for yourself like that, must have your own reasons hidden deep within your heart.

  The two sat silently facing each other on the swings for a long time, when Sotenakano suddenly smiled; she turned around and sat back down next to Kaito on the swing, speaking in a tone that was more like muttering to herself than asking a question: "I figured it out back then at the iron bridge, didn't I? On the surface, you seem like a gloomy person, but you have insight that others don't... even friends who've known each other for a long time haven't noticed..."

  "Your friends aren't oblivious, it's just that they choose to ignore the flaws in you because they believe in you, right?" Keiichi tilted his head back, his eyes following the clouds as they drifted apart and gathered together again; with friends like these, you're truly lucky.

  "Ah, I see... it was me who was slow on the uptake all along... The other person is a discipline committee member who deals with delinquents every day, how could they not have seen through it? It's clear that they trusted me and thought I wouldn't do something like this..." Sora Aoi also looked up at the sky in the same manner as Kaito Minamoto, actually trying her best to hold back the tears welling up in her eyes.

  "Is there a reason? Had you ever thought of giving 'Fantasy Hand' to your classmate before? I recall that the aftereffect of using 'Fantasy Hand' was revealed previously." Kaito Ichinose withdrew his gaze from the sky and looked at Soten Zakuro.

  "Because I'm scared..." Even with her head held high, Sotenashi Ryoko's tears still flowed down, accompanied by a sob as she said: "Because I'm scared that after using 'Fantasy Hand' alone, I'll just fall into a deep sleep and never wake up again, like I'm dead. That's why I selfishly wanted to find someone to accompany me... It's so weak and selfish of me, isn't it?"

  "Being able to stand up for oneself in the face of adversity, bravely confronting those who bully and take advantage of others - how can that be considered selfish and weak? You're just afraid of being alone and want to face difficulties with your companions, which is a normal human feeling. I suggest you don't hide from them the consequences of using 'Fantasy Hand', but instead invite them to join you honestly - this is what friends do. Even if something happens afterwards, they won't blame you for it."

  Kaito's words left Satsuki stunned for a moment, before she asked curiously: "Why? Don't you object to me using 'Fantasy Hand'?"

  "Life is sometimes like a GALGAME, where you have to make some choices. However, life isn't a game after all, and once you've made your choice, you can't reload and try again. So when making a decision, friends and family will often give advice based on their own experiences, and may even try to stop you if they think you're choosing the wrong option."

  "But your life is your own GALGAME, if you don't follow the path you want to choose, you'll never know what kind of scenery that road has. Maybe taking the roads that others have taken and many people are taking will be easier to walk, but that also means the scenery you see is the same as most people's, and the things you can discuss with them are the same too, just like products produced in the same factory... So I think, on the premise of not causing trouble for others, choosing your own options, even if you encounter a bad ending, it's still a scenery that no one else has experienced!"

  "Really... When seniors say things like that, they really do have a senior-like demeanor!" Sato Tsubaki listened to Kaiya's sidelong response and the tear stains on her face had already dried up, once again wearing the carefree and bright smile from when they first met.

  "What's called a social face, this is the precious experience I've summed up in over a decade of life. Moreover, it's not just at times like these that I have the demeanor of a senior. For the first time since childhood, he was praised by a girl and became slightly red-faced, somewhat annoyed and defensive."

  "Yes, yes." Soten Ryoko replied perfunctorily, as if coaxing a child.

  The two fell silent again, and Sora seemed to have made up her mind. She continued, "I've decided! I want to use it, I want to know what kind of potential I really have. I don't want to live a comfortable life like a pet dog that doesn't understand anything! For my dreams! I'm going to use it!"

  Satenashi sat on the swing, raised one hand and spread her fingers apart, gazing at the sunlight leaking through the gaps between them; to her, 'Fantasy Hand' was like the sunlight that filtered through the cracks of fate.

  "Should I call those classmates of yours to come along?"

  "No, because senior's words have already given me the courage to move forward alone, through a road full of thorns; it's better if fewer people know about that miserable state. Thank you!" Soten no Ko shook her head in denial of Kaito's inquiry and smiled as she thanked him.

  Actually, I'm worried that it might hurt those few friends. What a good kid. Kei Tairiku thought with a smile, but didn't say it out loud.

  "By the way, I still don't know your name. Can you tell me? Let's exchange emails too, just in case I pass out or something, I'll give you a call, okay? As my senpai, it's your responsibility to wake me up!" Sora Aoi suddenly seemed to remember something and pulled out her phone from her pocket, asking for an email exchange with Keitaro Yamato.